Voice 101 page 2
learning to sing better
THE BODY AS AN INSTRUMENT
The first and most important thing to learn from viewing your body as an instrument is take care of your instrument! Getting the proper balance of rest, exercise, and nutrition is vital to keeping your voice in shape. Obviously if your health is bad your voice will be in bad condition. Everyone suffers illness and accidents, but here are some common things vocalists do to help keep their health, their voice, and their instrument in the best of shape.
1. Get plenty of vitamin C. Natural sources are the best; cranberry juice has the highest concentration of vitamin C in a natural fruit juice source. If you like tea, use rose hips which also carry a tremendous amount of C. Vitamin supplements are always helpful. Your body cannot store vitamin C, and any excess is excreted in the urine. This vitamin needs replacing every day. Drinking water, smoking, and many other vitamins and foods will use up or eliminate the C in your body. Be sure to include the B vitamins in your diet as well! The B and C groups work together.
2. Get plenty of rest. A tired body makes a tired voice. Do your best to be well rested before singing.
3. Try a daily gargle. Vocalists have long used gargles of lightly salted water (helps rid the throat of any infection), honey water (lubricates the throat and vocal cords), and a ton of other specially prepared gargles. Herbal gargles that can help include clove and cinnamon (lightly numb the throat if sore) and sage (helps fight infection and clear up excess phlegm).
4. Avoid throat heavy foods and drinks before singing. What are throat heavy foods and drinks? Anything that coats your throat - milk and dairy based products probably being the worst of them.
5. NEVER YELL! Yelling, hollering, shouting - these are the number one problem causers for your voice. It's too easy to push just that bit much. Remember, if your throat hurts you've overdone it. Be quiet for awhile.
6. Take regular, light exercise. Regular light exercise (walking, biking, slow swimming) improve overall body tone, get all your systems pumping, and generally help your entire system - and therefore your voice.
7. Avoid, stop, or cut down on smoking. Aside from the many health issues smoking involves, passing smoke through your lungs and throat can leave them dry and raw. Smokers who can't kick the habit should seriously consider a gargle if they want to sing.
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